“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. President, 1910

Cowboy Courage: “Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway.”

When asked, how does the older teacher keep up with the younger students, the master replied, “One may know how to conquer without being required to do it.”

What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease. Hence his victories bring him neither reputation for wisdom nor credit for courage.

”Help us to see that it is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.” Unknown

”The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation. How much will you be missed?” Peter Marshall

”What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” “The Gladiator”

Prior to White Belt You dream of performing martial arts

At White Belt You decide to participate in a program

At Yellow Belt You can visualize yourself performing martial arts

At Green Belt You decide to commit yourself to a martial arts

At Blue Belt You begin to realize the power that is part of art

At Red Belt You realize that a good work ethic is needed to succeed

At Recommended Black Belt You begin to learn the ground rules for achievement

1st Degree Black Belt You earn the right to be called a martial artist

2nd Degree Black Belt You recognize that the process of learning never stops

3rd Degree Black Belt You realize that passing on your knowledge is critical

At 4th Degree Black Belt You begin to develop greater power and maturity

At 5th Degree Black Belt You believe you know the art and decide to teach.

At 6th degree Black Belt You have grown enough to develop your own style, but also, that there is no need to reinvent the art.

”Every commander should keep constantly before him the great truth, that to be well obeyed, he must be perfectly esteemed.”—John Paul Jones

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; shun him. He who knows not and knows that he knows not, is a child; teach him. He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep; wake him. He who knows and knows that he knows is wise; follow him. Unknown

The man who wants to lead the orchestra, must first turn his back on the crowd. Anon.

Helen Hayes once said that her mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. Her mother advised her that “Achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.”

Dear Dr. McCain: I must say that in researching for a didactic epistle caused me to engage in a nocturnal etymological research which generated a modicum of ratiocination. Because of your great interest in strengthening your vocabulary, you are obviously greatly superior to an abecedarian and not in the least thrasonical. One should not be engaged in overly hypo-coristic language nor should one be pusillanimous. This reminds me of what one of my law professors once said during a class, “Whenever you’re promulgating your esoteric philosophical observations, try to beware of platitudinous ponderosities. Always let your extemporaneous descantings have intelligibility, veracious vivacity, thrasonical bombasity, and seditiously avoid all polysyllabic profundities.” When I inquired as to what he meant, his response was, “In other words, use plain, communicable English.” Needless to say, I never have adhered to his admonition. I hope this does not cause one to reach for an acetylsalicylic acid tablet.” James Mavridis, Attorney at Law (Dr. McCain’s Father)

”Never roll in the mire to please the pigs.”

“Don’t jump into the river to get out of the rain.”

”Don’t Drown the man who taught you to swim.”

”An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” Mohandas K. Gandhi

”When the Student is ready the Teacher will Appear” - Author Unknown

“At the end of the chess match, both the king and the pawn return to the same box.” Italian Proverb.

Even a mosquito does not get a slap on the back until it begins its work. Anon.

Every job is a portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence. Anon.

The man who wins may have been counted out several times, but did not hear the referee. Anon.

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. Anon

”Letting your conscience be your guide is only valid if God’s Word is guiding your conscience” Dr. McCain.

Ability is more than skill or knowledge. A most significant aspect of ability lies in a person’s determination and conviction; an inner desire to apply oneself to a given task or belief. This is why some people who feel they lack ability can and often do, succeed in certain things considered impossible at one time. Dr. McCain

As we grow in TKD and in our personal character, we also develop a sense of acute responsibility which challenges us to accept individual areas of responsibilities that we would normally shun. Strength to act above the norm, to finish the course that is set before us, is initiated by accepting personal responsibility. This takes courage and demonstrates the concept of indomitable spirit. Always be ready to act on a higher plane.” Dr. McCain

”Those things worth learning, should be worthy of teaching. If what we are trying to learn will not be of value to others, we should evaluate our teacher.”

”Honor is the key quality which opens the door to the development of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. Without honor, the tenets of Taekwondo can never be realized in the life of the martial artist.”
”While physical training and flexibility provide beauty and strength to the patterns, and prevent injury, the spiritual aspects of flexibility provide grace, kindness, and compatibility to the character of our lives.” Dr. McCain

”Without learning proper respect for those in authority, we may never strive to our full potential and God-given ability.”

”To be a servant of many, you must first learn to be a servant of one!”

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